Putting An End to Music's Carbon Pollution
Music Decarbonization Project advances innovative climate solutions to directly eliminate carbon emissions created by the music industry.
Funding from this project helps develop and promote the necessary shift toward increased efficiency, expanding clean energy options, and reducing greenhouse gas pollution with a focus on the unique climate challenges of music.
DECARBONIZATION PROJECTS
Decarbonized Festival Stage
Portola 2024
- 100% BATTERY-POWERED FESTIVAL STAGE*
Goldenvoice’s First Battery-Powered Stage!
- 91% REDUCTION IN DIESEL**
Avoided the use of 2,730 gallons of diesel - 21.1 METRIC TONS OF CO2e AVOIDED
Portola, Goldenvoice, and AEG Presents teamed up with REVERB’s Music Decarbonization Project and Overdrive Energy Solutions to power the Ship Tent Stage with intelligent battery systems! No diesel generators ran during festival hours or when the stage was active!
*Batteries charged by Tier IV Generators using renewable diesel, cutting 99% of particulate matter and oxides of nitrogen
**Consumption estimates based on diesel generator @ ¼ load
Decarbonized Festival
Healing Appalachia
- 100% BATTERY-POWERED FESTIVAL
Stage • Tour Buses • Vendors • Food & Beverage
- 99% REDUCTION IN CO2e EMISSIONS
- 94% REDUCTION IN DIESEL
- 30+ METRIC TONS of CO2e AVOIDED
Healing Appalachia teamed up with REVERB’s Music Decarbonization Project and Overdrive Energy Solutions to use solar-charged intelligent battery systems to drastically reduce diesel fuel usage and greenhouse gas pollution at the 3-day festival.
HEADLINERS: Tyler Childers • My Morning Jacket • Sierra Ferrell
Decarbonization Project
Billie Eilish: Lollapalooza
SOLAR-POWERED HEADLINE SET
One of the biggest artists in the world. One of the largest festival stages in the world. A new decarbonized future for live music.
Billie Eilish and REVERB’s Music Decarbonization Project partnered to power key stage elements with solar-charged intelligent battery systems for the artist’s headline set at Lollapalooza 2023.
Battery Systems
SXSW Community Concerts
SXSW’s Community Concerts Series at Lady Bird Lake was 100% battery-powered thanks to REVERB’s Music Decarbonization Project!
Using a combination of a temporary on-site solar array and grid power to charge the battery systems, SXSW was able to completely avoid diesel generators in 2024. SXSW’s Community Concerts stage is the festival’s largest, hosting 13,000 people each night.
This effort avoided 10 tons of CO2e pollution
Festival Decarbonization
Willie Nelson's Luck Reunion 2024
A MUSIC DECARBONIZATION PROJECT SUCCESS STORY!
Following our successful rollout of solar-charged intelligent battery systems to power all four festival stages in 2023, Luck Reunion completely switched to batteries for their power needs on and off stage for 2024.
Artists in 2024 included: Willie Nelson, Tyler Childers, Dawes, Luscius, John Oates, Old Crow Medicine Show and 20 others!
Finding that reliability and costs of the new power systems were comparable to or even better than diesel generators, coupled with its clear environmental advantages, Luck Reunion is leaving fossil fuels in the past… and in the ground.
This effort avoided 3.1 tons of CO2e pollution
DECARBONIZED CONCERT SERIES
Higher Ground's Summer Concert Series
In a first-of-its-kind effort for a venue, Higher Ground Presents in Burlington, VT made the switch to battery systems to power their summer concert series at the Shelburne Museum!
Seeing the success of Music Decarbonization Project efforts, Higher Ground founder Alex Crothers ditched diesel and turned to Vermont-based NOMAD Transportable Power Systems for a battery system to completely power the stage for the 3,000-capacity venue. Charged via Vermont’s nearly 100% renewable energy power grid, the batteries drastically reduced greenhouse gas pollution at the venue!
2024 Artists Include: Guster, Jason Mraz, Lake Street Dive, Train, Rainbow Kitten Surprise, and more!
Decarbonization Project
100% Solar Powered Festival Stage
With Performances by WILLIE NELSON, SPOON, MARGO PRICE, THE WAR AND TREATY, and more
Largest Solar Powered Festival Stage of Its Kind
REVERB partnered with Luck Presents at Willie Nelson’s annual Luck Reunion Festival to replace diesel generators with solar-powered intelligent battery systems. This zero-emission power system reduced diesel fuel consumption and associated greenhouse gas pollution related to temporary power by over 90%
Decarbonization Project
NEXT GENERATION FESTIVAL LIGHTING
COACHELLA & STAGECOACH
REVERB’s Music Decarbonization Project helped Overdrive Energy Solutions fund, develop, and build 100% solar powered next-generation festival light towers to replace traditional diesel powered units. These new zero-emissions towers drastically reduce fuel consumption and related greenhouse gas emissions at festivals.
Decarbonization Study
Fan Travel Survey
Fan travel to and from concerts creates the biggest climate impact of live music representing anywhere from 70-90+% of the total carbon footprint. We’re seeking greater understanding of the issue to explore new climate solutions.
REVERB’s Fan Travel Survey is engaging fans at concerts to help us learn more about the issue, better understand how people are traveling to shows and discover ways to encourage and enable more sustainable options. Over 35,000 respondents completed the survey!
The survey was featured several tours including:
Dave Matthews Band • Dead & Company • Guster • Paramore • The Lumineers • Young The Giant
REVERB is partnering with data scientists at UMASS Amherst to analyze the data and will release a report in 2024 outlining results and strategies for the music industry to help reduce the climate impact of fan travel.
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
Billie Eilish
The Lumineers
Dead & Company
Odesza
Tame Impala
Jack Johnson
Young The Giant
My Morning Jacket
Rhiannon Giddens
Guster
Wild Rivers
UMG
Sound Future
Overdrive Energy Solutions
What is Decarbonization?
Decarbonization is exactly what it sounds like – the elimination or reduction of greenhouse gasses, especially CO2, being released into the atmosphere, especially those related to the burning of fossil fuels.
Existing technologies and emerging solutions are making a carbon-free future a reality. By quickly eliminating or reducing the use of fossil fuels, we can drastically reduce greenhouse gases, limit heating of the planet, and avoid the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
Decarbonizing Music
The music industry has a significant climate footprint including intense energy needs, considerable travel, and complex supply chains. Through adopting existing climate solutions, exploring emerging technologies, and sustainability-focused decision making, music can significantly reduce its carbon footprint and lead the movement away from fossil fuels.
While the industry’s footprint may be lower than other sectors, its decarbonization efforts and cultural importance have the potential to create an outsized impact on climate action around the world.
Get in touch!
Interested in how you can decarbonize your tour, festival, or venue?
Have a solution you feel can help music decarbonize?
Please fill out the form to get in touch!